bims-livmat 2026-04-12 papers

Biomater Adv. 2026 Mar 30. pii: S2772-9508(26)00145-7. [Epub ahead of print]185 214847

Engineering Corynebacterium glutamicum as a multifunctional biofactory for living therapeutic materials and controlled ectoine delivery.

Berina Muhovic, Maria Puertas Bartolome, Lara Luana Teruel Enrico, Louise Dupont, Alain M Jonas, Karine Glinel, Aranzazu Del Campo, Christoph Wittmann.

Living therapeutic materials (LTMs) are an emerging class of biomaterials that integrate living cells within engineered polymer matrices to provide dynamic and responsive functionalities. In this study, we engineered the robust, nonpathogenic, and GRAS-certified microorganism Corynebacterium glutamicum into a multifunctional biofactory for LTM applications. Using synthetic biology, we designed and constructed C. glutamicum strains capable of sensing, reporting, and producing the extremolyte ectoine. Ectoine is a clinically used compatible solute with cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties that is widely applied in dermatological formulations, nasal sprays, and ophthalmic preparations for the treatment of inflammatory and stress-related conditions. The engineered strains were further encapsulated in polymer-based living materials, including membrane-in-gel patches and core-shell hydrogel systems, to create skin-compatible and ocular-applicable therapeutic platforms. We developed genetic biosensors that detect diaminobutyric acid (DABA), a key intermediate in the ectoine biosynthesis pathway, to enable the time-resolved monitoring of cellular function. These biosensors, which are integrated with fluorescence and enzymatic reporter systems, allowed the noninvasive visualization of metabolic activity. Encapsulation strategies were optimized to ensure high metabolic activity, structural stability, and biocontainment, along with the controlled release of ectoine for potential applications in drug delivery and protective therapies. This work highlights the potential of C. glutamicum as a versatile platform for next-generation LTMs, offering precise monitoring and targeted therapeutic capabilities toward multifunctional living materials for precision medicine and environmental biosensing applications.

Keywords: Biosensor; Corynebacterium glutamicum; Drug delivery; Ectoine; Encapsulation; Hydrogel; Living therapeutic material; Metabolic engineering; Precision medicine; Synthetic biology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioadv.2026.214847

Trends Biotechnol. 2026 Apr 06. pii: S0167-7799(26)00084-3. [Epub ahead of print]

Bioart and biosafety: navigating 'living art' within the European regulatory framework.

Matthijs De Block, Christina Stadlbauer, Tom Peeters, Marjan De Mey.

Bioart and transgenic art employ living and genetically engineered organisms. This article examines how European biosafety governance influences the public presentation of bioart and analyzes how 'living art' can be hampered by biosafety regulations. We argue that the exhibition and public discussion of bioart can lead to more informed societies.

Keywords: EU GMO regulation; art–science collaboration; bioart; biosafety; exhibition policy; transgenic art

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.02.021

Nat Commun. 2026 Apr 07.

A live biohybrid bacterial therapy based on engineered Serratia marcescens.

Lihao Ji, Tianze Zhu, Tianqi Jiang, Li Wang, Zhonghui Qiu, Shiqi Gao, Yuqi Wang, Jing Wang, Jingyi Zhang, Haomiao Huang, Yunlong Mao, Chen Lin, Jing Zhao, Xiuxiu Wang, Wei Wei.

Bacterial therapeutics hold great promise for cancer treatment by targeting oxygen-poor tumor regions and complementing existing therapies. However, current approaches often struggle with safety concerns and complex engineering. Developing a safe, effective delivery platform relying entirely on natural bacterial biosynthesis remains a challenge. Here we show that attenuated Serratia marcescens serves as a powerful biohybrid platform for cancer therapy by leveraging its natural biosynthesis of prodigiosin, a photosensitive pigment. We engineer S. marcescens to yield high prodigiosin levels, which exhibit strong intrinsic anti-cancer activity and near-infrared photosensitivity. In female mouse models of melanoma and colorectal cancer, this platform triggers robust systemic immune responses, including enhanced T cell recruitment and long-term memory against tumor recurrence. Furthermore, the bacteria induces tumor cell death via mitophagy, while photothermal properties of prodigiosin enables rapid, light-controlled bacterial clearance post-treatment. These findings establish S. marcescens as a versatile, self-regulating biosynthetic platform for precise and safe cancer immunotherapy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-70949-4